14th September - Lima to Atlanta

The flight to Atlanta passed very quickly with half the group asleep before dinner was even served. We arrived in Atlanta and passed through Immigration without any real problems. We then made our way through the airport and out into Atlanta on the Marta train.

On the recommendation of the airhostess we had sat beside on the way across, we headed to Five Points station. We exited and began looking for shops and or cafes. Unfortunately, we didn't immediately find any and, as the drizzle fell, so did our spirits. Eventually, we found a McDonalds for breakfast. We sat chumping on our food reflecting on how we seemed to be the only white faces around!

We then headed towards the 'World of Coca Cola'. We didn't know it, but apparently Coca Cola was invented in Atlanta and so the 'World of Coca Cola' explains about the origins, shows how it is made (but not the secret formula) and allows you to try as many fizzy drinks from all round the world as you like. Unfortunately, my stomach was still giving me trouble (especially with trapped gas) and so I couldn't quite indulge myself as much as I wanted, but it was still really good. Lyndsey, meanwhile, went to scout out the shops in Underground Atlanta, the big shopping mall in the area. Once we had seen everything in the 'World of Coca Cola', we joined Lyndsey in Underground Atlanta. We found a really cool store, even better, in my humble opinion, than the Discovery Store, which sold everything from Remote Control Hover Craft to intelligent scales. Great to browse around.

We spent some time in another café before returning to the train station and returning to the airport to check in for our flight back to England. Once we had our boarding cards, we did a little shopping, grabbed a bite to eat and then returned to the gate.

We were sitting in what was almost a row of 7 seats on return to London. On arrival, we were straight through Immigration and, once the baggage was collected, we were out into Gatwick's arrivals hall to be met by a couple of Jamal's relatives and Lyndsey's boyfriend.

I then got a lift into central London with Paul and Lyndsey and, following a cup of coffee on the balcony of their riverside apartment (which I decided was safer than going inside given when I had last washed and the amount of trouble my stomach was producing down under), Adam (Paul's housemate) gave me a lift to the Millenium Wheel opposite Westminster. I went for a ride on it, which was pretty cool if a little expensive. I then wandered across the river on the new pedestrian footbridge to Charing Cross, where I left my rucksack in left luggage. I then wandered along the riverside to the Millenium Bridge and spent an hour in the Tate Modern gallery. It is funny what passes for art. I was glad of the toilets at the Tate Modern as my stomach was still not entirely in control of itself. I then headed back to Charing Cross via St Pauls Cathedral and down Fleet Street and The Strand.

From there, I took the Underground out to Heathrow, almost missing my stop when, yet again, I dozed off without having an alarm set! On arrival in the check-in hall, I discovered that the bmi check-in desks were bedlam, but, wielding the free upgrade card I had picked up on the way across to London, I joined the short Business Class queue. Sure enough, I was upgraded into seat 1A and was told to make myself at home in the Business Class Lounge. Happy days!

On entering the lounge, I found myself a comfy sofa, poured myself a coffee, grabbed some biscuits and started into the sandwiches I had bought in Boots before I came in. I spent a happy couple of hours reading the newspapers, drinking Iron Bru and nibbling peanuts before my flight was called. I had some nice sandwiches and a hot scone with clotted cream on the flight before arriving in home sweet home in Belfast. The stomach took about 24 hours to sort itself out after my return, although I was asleep for 14 hours of those in my warm, clean and comfortable bed. Its good to travel!